Taking a stand against racism
John Passant
March 7, 2011 - 11:58AM
Benji Marshall is a rugby league superstar. He was the face of rugby league at its season launch this week.
On Friday night, after a charity event that raised $250,000 for children with cancer, Marshall and his girlfriend went out and at 3am were at a fast food outlet.
Marshall's manager Martin Tauber told Sunday newspapers that the Tigers' five-eighth had been racially abused by a group of eight to 10 people, with one of them allegedly calling him a "black c---" several times.
Another started to shout at him and said: "Go back to New Zealand you black c---", Tauber said.
He (Marshall) tried to walk away from him — he tried to make light of it and then the guy did it again. So Marshall allegedly hit him and has now been charged with assault.
Australian capitalism is built on two forms of racism – racism against the original inhabitants and racism against non-whites coming to the country whether as migrants or refugees.
The crimson thread of racism runs through our body politic and major sections of society even today.
Last year rugby league player Timana Tahu quit the NSW State of Origin team to take a stand against racism in rugby league. Andrew Johns, an assistant coach, had called him a "black c---".
Tahu said at the time: "Leaving Origin was a really big decision for me and I'd like to clarify that it was not just one racial comment directed at one individual that offended me.
"The remarks were directed at various races and the situation I encountered was totally unacceptable.
"I believe I am a role model for children and I did this to show my kids this type of behaviour is wrong.
"This isn't about me or Andrew Johns, it's about arresting racism and standing up for my beliefs."
Tahu was battling against racism in rugby league. On Saturday morning Benji Marshall took a stand against racism in society.
The racial abuse Marshall allegedly suffered is just one small part of what blacks in Australia suffer every day. Just ask the 30 per cent of players who are of Pacific Islander descent and the 11 per cent who are indigenous about the racism they suffered and suffer.
But it is not just verbal abuse. In the Northern Territory the Labor government's intervention is destroying more and more Aboriginal lives.
Aborigines continue to die or be killed in police custody. They die on average about 20 years earlier than the rest of the Australian population.The racism is institutionalised and endemic.
Benji Marshall took a swipe at racism. He is a hero, not a criminal.
We must support him and help build the forces of anti-racism in this country first to challenge the racism in Australian society and then the capitalist system that breeds it.
